How to Slay a Beast (Book 1)

Chapter 15

"Fancy seeing you here," I said, to Mr. Breeden. It was a library study day, and we had to confirm our materials with him before starting work. We were supposed to be doing our main research for the in defense of John Wilkes Booth project we were doing that week.

"Yes, odd the turns life takes," he said. He still had the steak to his eye but it was held up with rubber bands now. like a really macabre eye patch.

"Why did my dad hit you?" I asked.

"Because I'm an idiot," he said.

"I didn't know you knew each other," I said.

"We don't. That's what makes me an idiot. It's okay. I need to be knocked around sometimes," he said, looking at my books.

"Why were you out in the woods last night?" I asked.

"I couldn't sleep, I like taking walks by the lake," he said.

"It's dangerous, you shouldn't be out there," I said.

"I had the illegal gun," he said, shrugging.

"Where did you get that by the way?" I asked.

"The getting place," he said, "You don't need to be out there either."

"I was helping find Enoch," I said.

"I know, but your mom can't lose you too," he said.

"She won't," I said, then I sighed, "Sorry my dad hit you."

"It's okay, like I said, I'm an idiot," he said, smiling a little.

"So's he sometimes," I said.

"Most men are, you'll find," he said.

"Are my books okay?" I asked, looking down at them.

"Yes---yes, they're perfect," he said, looking down as well, "Um----yeah, they're perfect----Brief History of Time----Universe in a Nutshell---I'm glad you're reading science books as well."

"Yeah, stuff for me," I said, "Research, really."

"Good that's good---I'm glad," he said, nodding.

"I should go study---sorry about your eye and---face," I said, wincing. The steak was kind of melted by now. I really didn't know why they weren't using ice packs.

"It's really, really, okay," he said.

**

"I'm going to go and take a shower," Matthew said, walking up the stairs without glancing back at us.

"Okay," I said.

"Sorry," Enoch said, to me, hanging his little head.

"I'm not mad at you sweety—you just can't scare me like that. I know you were mad at your dad, but I was so scared," I said squeezing him.

"I know," he said, "I'm sorry."

"Shh. You're safe now, that's the most important thing, and you won't do that again, right?" I asked.

"Right," he said, smiling.

"Do you want to go and finish building your fort once your dad goes to work?" I asked.

"Really?" he asked, hopefully, "But dad said---"

"Your dad is worried about you---which is understandable, but---we don't need to live our lives afraid of things."

**

"YES YOU DO!!!"they can't hear me. they can't hear me even though I'm screaming. It didn't get me. this time. but I ran all night. I can't have it get me again. not again. I could not take that again. I was sobbing. Why couldn't they hear me? why did I have to be here and yet gone? They all thought I was gone. My mom couldn't hear me couldn't find me she sobbed for me when I was right here crying for her.